Long coat with hood made of tiger fur (250gp) - Might raise a few eyebrows... particularly if there are weretigers in the immediate vicinity. Suitable for a human or half-orc.

Maroon leather bound navigator's chronicle with star charts (250gp) - A weighty tome with star charts that if consulted against a clear night sky grant an Intelligence check to determine rough location and season. It also contains a navigator's chronicle which if consulted for 1d4 hours prior gives a +2 bonus to any navigation checks to avoid getting lost.

Repeating light crossbow with lever-arm action and magazine of 5 bolts (250gp) - If there are bolts in the magazine, the crossbow can be reloaded without losing an action or movement. Loading a magazine onto the crossbow or loading a magazine with bolts takes a full round.

Simple ring of white gold (225gp) - May have been a wedding band once.

Monday, 25 March 2013

These flightless, filth-caked giant bats grow tall as bears grazing fungal forests like emaciated giant sloths. They navigate dark areas with clicking sounds and excellent vision. Waddling on hind legs, gorilla-esque arms and webbed fingers scoop fungi into mouths and smear filth. Their stench is part brimstone, part latrine. This evolved as a defence against predators and also helps nourish their food supply. They are usually peaceful but attack if provoked. Brutyarasa carry disease, their bite has a 10% chance of infection, a save vs. poison is needed. Failure means death in 1d6 days. Success leads to incapacitating sickness for 30 days, with 25% chance of death. A cure disease spell is effective against this infection. Brutyarasa dislike water and try to avoid it.

Friday, 15 March 2013

Jacket made of seal fur (120gp) - Will keep wearer warm and dry in wet weather. Selkies will not be your friend and may wish to do something about this fashion choice.

Knotted rope made from giant spider silk (100gp) - This 40' rope (50' unknotted) is three times as strong as normal rope and gives a -4 penalty (-20%) to escape or breaking attempts. Weighs 4lb.

Leather bound small box containing common remedies against poison (100gp) - This gives a +3 bonus on checks to treat poisoning or a new saving throw at +3 against an afflicted victim who isn't already dead yet. Weighs 3lbs and has 1d6+4 uses.

Maroon silk vest with six obsidian buttons (110gp) - The buttons are polished to a mirror-shine (worth 10gp each) and this item is sized for a large human.

Ornate brass signet ring in coiled serpent design with two freshwater pearls for eyes (90gp) - This ring has a poison pill compartment (empty alas) needing a pick pockets/sleight-of-hand check to use unseen. Finding the compartment is as easy as finding a secret door. The seal is of a reputable house of artisans. If the eyes are removed, each is worth 10gp.

Pennant of crimson silk with white starburst edged with freshwater pearls (100gp) - There are twenty-four poor-quality freshwater pearls, each worth 1d3gp. Removing these will ruin the pennant.

Quartz-studded cloth-of-silver dancing girl's outfit (100gp) - Suitable for a human or half-elf with thirty-two pieces of poor-quality rock crystal , each worth 2gp. Removing these will ruin the outfit.

Religious text bound in supple pale leather covers (100gp) - When consulted for 1d4 hours, character gains a +1 to their next saving throw vs. death having commended their soul to a higher power for the next 24 hours DM is encouraged to include one or more clues about mysterious holy sites that may involve a dungeon.

Silvered short sword with bloodstone set in cross-piece (90gp) - Flanges on the cross-piece means the bloodstone (50gp gem) can be removed or replaced with a gem of similar size (DM's fiat).

Unholy symbol in solid gold (100gp) - Exquisite craftsmanship makes this very valuable despite only weighing 1lb. If melted down, worth 50gp by weight. If purified or destroyed by a good cleric, paladin or similar worthy, this act is worth 100xp.

Sunday, 10 March 2013

The Wool and Wolf is a south-facing tavern famed for wine and tell-tale scratches. Lovers know few superior locales for rendezvous. A short ride from town on a worn track reveals the Wool and Wolf and it's stables. Sometimes music drifts through the air. A white lamb and black wolf nose to tail with each other adorn the red sign. "Wool and Wolf" is etched beneath.

The tavern is rectangular, two-storey with flat brick roof, spacious porch and vine-laden iron trellises. Roses are grown at the corners. At the back is a single-storey stone stable that can hold five horses in comfort. A neat orchard of apple and cherry offers shelter. Individual trees are decorated with strips of cloth.

Inside reveals a former hunting lodge with beams and paneling carved with hunts and courtly love. Trophies of wolf, bear and boar are prominent features. Folding screens of linen over wicker conceal lovers' seats from view in dim corners and alcoves. Three eight-seat trestles dominate the common area. The tavern can seat another two dozen in alcoves, corners and nooks suitable for close couples.

The Wool and Wolf sells brown lambic ale, crisp cider and sweet cyser at four copper. A silver buys strong mead or excellent kriek. A bottle of good red wine is 2sp, an excellent red is also sold for 10gp. Cold winter nights see mulled wine and lambswool (spiced mulled cider) served and the orchard wassailed. A variety of food is offered. Boar sausage, pigeon pies, honey bread and goat's cheese are available for a handful of silver. All are expertly cooked and spiced.

The landlord Hericio is a stocky fortysomething. His elf-locked tawny hair, silver tongue and burly frame were swooned over ten years ago. Age and revelry took a toll. Now eloquent and well-heeled mentor to lotharios, his youth is fondly recalled in a brewing retirement. His bodyservant (and business partner) Plannear facilitates. Older, fatter, bumbling yet penny-wise, Plannear keeps wealth rolling in by deals and discreet help. Olwin and Thena, a garrulous brother and sister cook. Four maids serve ale and clean rooms, finding suitable matches or opportunities within two years.

The Wool and Wolf has five intimate suites for 2gp a night with warm goosedown comforters. The common room is 5sp. For 20gp a night, lovers of luxury can enjoy a sumptuous honeymoon suite with a banquet. All guests get warm blankets of wolf fur. Hericio will offer the blankets to common room guests but stays close-lipped on their origin.

A quiet trade is done for those suffering from lycanthropy. A tour of the 'famous cellar' for two silver is offered. Beneath the cellar is a secret door hidden in a cobwebbed hogshead with a dubiously clean front. Opening the front of the massive barrel reveals a ladder. Descending it reveals two rows of five cells. Each iron-bound cell door is barred and deadbolted in the floor, all on the outside. In each cell are silvered manacles and cot. 'Guests' are locked up, given a skin of drugged wine and locked in for the night.

Hericio and Plannear have experience in dealing with lycanthropes, their families lost to packs of werewolves. They not only advise romantics but also werewolf hunters. This has led to ties with certain families and churches sworn to cure or destroy lycanthropy. This has helped the Wool and Wolf maintain respectability when scandal raises it's ugly head.